F Troop: Season 01  (1965)

Theatrical Release Information:
F Troop: Season 01

Each of the first-season episodes of the riotous Western sitcom F Troop opened with a stirring balled, sung by a male chorus, which explained how clumsy, inept Wilton Parmenter (Ken Berry), a hapless scion of a legendary military family, was promoted to captain in the final days of the Civil War. Dispatched to pick up General Grant's laundry, Parmenter developed a cold en route and abruptly sneezed within earshot of the Union troops, who were then in retreat. This sneeze was misinterpreted as a command to "Charge!," whereupon the troops reversed direction and scored an enormous victory over the Confederates. Although Parmenter was now a hero, it was clear that he was somewhat lacking in the basic requirements of strong leadership, so he was shipped far, far out West to assume command of Fort Courage, an obscure cavalry post manned by misfits and foul-ups known as "F Troop." In the series opener, "Scourge of the West," it is quickly established that, despite Parmenter's presence, that F Troop was actually controlled by crafty Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke (Forrest Tucker), a genial con artist who runs most of the local illicit activities, from gambling to moonshine to the manufacture of phony Indian souvenirs. Together with his sidekick, Cpl. Randolph Agarn (Larry Storch), O'Rourke is able to keep his various underhanded enterprises up and running, all the while pulling the wool over the eyes of the dimwitted Parmenter. Aiding and abetting O'Rourke and Agarn is Wild Eagle, chief of the local Hekawi Tribe, a timid soul who proclaims "We not fighters -- we lovers. Hekawis invent peace pipe!" In several of the earliest episodes, venerable character comedian Edward Everett Horton is seen as the Hekawi's doddering medicine man, "Roaring Chicken." The satirical tone of the series is maintained in its choice of guest stars and character names. Henry Gibson appears as the "jinxed" cavalry private Wrongo Starr; Sarah Marshall is seen as suspected murderess Hermione Gooderly; Pat Harrington Jr. does an on-target impersonation of Get Smart star Don Adams in the role of frontier spy B. Wise; Don Rickles is his usual frantic self as cowardly renegade Indian Bald Eagle; Andrew Duggan shows up as Major Chester Winster, inventor of "the gun that will win the West"; Bernard Fox guests as Major Bentley-Royce, British master of camouflage; and in the episode "El Diablo," series regular Larry Storch does double duty as both Cpl. Agarn and Agran's lookalike cousin, a notorious Mexican bandit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide